Christmas in Hong Kong is a wonderful time filled with festive lights, family gatherings, and delicious meals. But planning a traditional Christmas dinner in our fast-paced city can feel a bit overwhelming. Between compact apartment kitchens, busy work schedules, and limited fridge space, getting your festive centerpiece right takes a little bit of smart planning.
Whether you prefer a juicy roasted whole turkey, a sweet and savoury glazed Christmas ham, or both, pre-ordering early is the secret to a stress-free holiday season.
In this guide, we will share everything you need to know about picking, sizing, and pre-ordering your Christmas ham and turkey in Hong Kong.
Why Pre-Ordering Your Christmas Meat is Essential in Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, premium imported meats—especially whole festive turkeys and traditional smoked gammon hams—are in high demand during November and December. Waiting until the last week of December often leaves stock sold out or with limited size options.
Here is why pre-ordering early makes your holiday planning so much easier:
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Guaranteed Supply: Secure the exact weight and cut of meat you need before popular items run out.
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Better Space Management: Choose a guaranteed delivery date that fits your fridge space and cooking timeline.
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Less Holiday Stress: Tick the biggest part of your Christmas meal off your to-do list weeks in advance.
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Freshness Control: Ensure your meat arrives at peak quality, chilled or frozen, right when you need it.
Explore our Christmas Ham & Turkey Collection to view our full seasonal range.
Choosing Between Christmas Ham and Whole Turkey (Or Both!)
Both Christmas ham and roast turkey are iconic festive dishes, but they bring different flavours and preparation styles to your dining table.
1. Traditional Christmas Smoked Gammon Ham
A classic centerpiece, smoked gammon ham is rich, savoury, and slightly sweet. It is extremely forgiving to cook and stays juicy even when kept warm for longer.
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Best for: Easy entertaining, leftovers, and feeding large groups.
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Flavour Profile: Smoky, rich, and sweet when finished with a honey or mustard glaze.
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Hong Kong Kitchen Friendly: Can be served warm or cold, which saves oven space on Christmas Day!
2. Whole Roast Turkey
Nothing says Christmas quite like a golden, whole roast turkey presented in the middle of the table. It delivers lean, high-protein white meat alongside rich dark meat.
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Best for: Traditional sit-down family dinners.
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Flavour Profile: Mild, savoury, and perfect when paired with gravy and cranberry sauce.
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Hong Kong Kitchen Friendly: Requires checking your oven dimensions first!
Portion Sizing Guide: How Much Meat Do You Need?
One of the most common questions home cooks ask is: "How big a turkey or ham should I buy?"
To help you plan accurately, use this handy portion reference table:
|
Main Course Option |
Guest Count |
Recommended Weight |
|
Whole Turkey |
4 – 6 Guests |
3.5 kg – 4.5 kg |
|
Whole Turkey |
8 – 10 Guests |
5.0 kg – 6.0 kg |
|
Whole Turkey |
12+ Guests |
6.5 kg+ |
|
Boneless Gammon Ham |
4 – 6 Guests |
1.5 kg – 2.0 kg |
|
Boneless Gammon Ham |
8 – 12 Guests |
3.0 kg – 4.0 kg |
|
Bone-In Gammon Ham |
10 – 14 Guests |
5.0 kg – 6.0 kg |
Smart Tips for Hong Kong Kitchens and Fridges
Cooking a large holiday meal in a standard Hong Kong apartment requires a bit of clever organization. Here are four simple rules to ensure success:
1. Measure Your Oven First
Before pre-ordering a large whole turkey or bone-in ham, measure the internal height, width, and depth of your oven or countertop convection oven. Make sure your roasting pan fits comfortably with room for heat to circulate.
2. Plan Your Defrosting Time
If your turkey or ham arrives frozen, defrosting safely takes time. Never rush this process using warm or hot water.
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Fridge Thawing (Recommended): Allow roughly 24 hours of fridge time for every 2 kg of meat. A 4 kg turkey will need about 48 hours to thaw safely in the fridge.
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Cold Water Method: Place the sealed package in cold tap water, changing the water every 30 minutes.
To read more about safe preparation, see our guide on How To Thaw Meat And Seafood Safely.
3. Clear Fridge Shelves Early
Festive meats take up significant space. Clean out condiment jars and non-essentials a few days before your delivery to make room for your main dish and side ingredients.
4. Schedule Delivery 1–2 Days Before Christmas
Avoid asking for delivery on Christmas Day itself. Having your delivery arrive on December 23rd or 24th gives you plenty of time to thaw, prep, and marinate without any last-minute stress.
Step-by-Step Christmas Pre-Order Timeline
To keep your festive planning completely organized, follow this easy timeline:
Late November: Place Your Pre-Order
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Check your guest list and estimate portion sizes.
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Measure your oven and pan size.
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Order your turkey, ham, and festive sides online at Aussie Meat.
1 Week Before Christmas: Prep Your Kitchen
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Clear out space in your freezer and main fridge shelf.
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Check that you have roasting tins, meat thermometers, and foil ready.
2 to 3 Days Before Christmas: Delivery & Thawing
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Receive your Aussie Meat delivery at home.
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Move frozen turkey or ham into the fridge to begin slow, safe thawing.
Christmas Eve: Final Preps & Glazing
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Prepare glaze recipes (e.g., honey mustard or maple orange).
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Dry-brine your turkey or score the skin of your ham.
Christmas Day: Easy Cooking & Serving
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Roast, carve, and enjoy a wonderful meal with family and friends!
Why Choose Aussie Meat for Your Festive Pre-Order?
At Aussie Meat, we pride ourselves on delivering premium, Michelin Star-quality meats directly to homes across Hong Kong. Owned and operated by Australians, our products are naturally farmed, hormone-free, and carefully sourced from trusted Australian, New Zealand, and global farmers.
When you pre-order with us, you get:
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Free delivery across Hong Kong for orders over HKD 1,000.
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Flexible delivery scheduling straight to your doorstep.
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Hormone-free, high-quality festive meats that taste incredible.
To truly elevate your festive centerpiece, dressing up your bird with gourmet flavours makes all the difference. For a bright, aromatic twist that balances savoury depth with citrus notes, follow our step-by-step guide on How to Prepare Clementine and Garlic Roast Turkey. Alternatively, if you prefer a rich, beautifully caramelized finish, explore our popular recipe for How to Prepare Canadian Maple Roast Turkey to delight your guests with sweet and savoury perfection.
Final Thoughts
Pre-ordering your Christmas ham and turkey takes the guesswork out of holiday cooking. By picking the right weight, measuring your oven ahead of time, and allowing enough time for safe thawing, you can relax and enjoy a delicious feast with your loved ones.


Author
Aussie Meat is The Australian Meat Brand. We deliver Michelin Star-quality Meat, Ocean-catch Seafood, Wine and BBQ Grills across Hong Kong, 5 days per week. Owned and operated by Australians, we deliver finest quality meat which is grass fed, organic, naturally farmed, hormone and antibiotic free meat and ocean-catch seafood from Australian, New Zealand and global farmers jet fresh to your home or office. We understand the value in giving back, our Eat For Charity Program #eat4charityhk donates 5% of our profits towards HK charities.